28. Fiona
28
FIONA
F iona stood at the window of the community center, watching leaves dance across the courtyard. Had it really been a year already?
"Someone's looking really contemplative," Caleb said softly, wrapping his arms around her waist from behind. His warmth seeped through her sweater, and she leaned gently back against his chest.
"Just thinking about how much has changed in twelve months." She traced her fingers softly along his forearms. "Remember when you used to scowl every time I suggested something new for the center?"
"I did not scowl." His protest rumbled through his chest. "I was being cautious."
"You definitely scowled." She turned in his arms to face him. "Like this." She furrowed her brows in an exaggerated impression.
"I look nothing like that." But his lips twitched with suppressed amusement.
Through the window, she spotted former Nightfang members chatting easily with Eclipsed Moon pack members as they set up for the now-annual harvest festival. The sight warmed her heart more than any fire magic ever could.
"Look at them," she said. "Who would have thought they'd mesh so well?"
"They just needed real leadership." Caleb's voice softened. "They needed to feel like they belonged somewhere."
"And now they do." She poked him. "Thanks to one grumpy alpha who turned out to have a heart of gold."
"I'm not grumpy."
"Sure, sure." She kissed his chin softly. "Keep telling yourself that."
Emmett shuffled past, carrying a box of decorations. "You two are giving me cavities. Some of us are trying to work here."
"Speaking of work," Fiona said, "we should really help with the setup."
"In a minute." Caleb caught her hand as she tried to move away. "I like this view."
"The courtyard?"
"No." His blue eyes locked with hers. "You. Happy. Safe. Here with me."
"Always the smooth talker." But her heart fluttered all the same. "Who would have thought you'd turn out to be such a romantic?"
"Only with you." He pressed a gentle kiss to her temple. "And if you tell anyone, I'll deny it all."
"Your secret's safe with me, Alpha." She grinned. "Now come on, those decorations won't hang themselves."
Fiona balanced on a ladder, hanging streamers across the community center's main hall. Below, former Nightfang members worked alongside Eclipsed Moon pack members, their previous animosity dissolved into occasional playful jabs.
"A little higher on the left," Sam, a former Nightfang member, called up. "No, your other left."
"I only have one left," Fiona laughed, adjusting the streamer.
The sight reminded her of three months ago, when Sam had first volunteered at the center's summer program. She'd been stiff and uncertain, until a group of kids had dragged her into their finger-painting session. By the end, Sam's face had been covered in more paint than the canvas.
"Perfect," Sam said. "Though not as perfect as that time Joey tried teaching both packs synchronized dancing."
Fiona snorted, remembering the disaster. Joey, an Eclipsed Moon member, had insisted it would be a great bonding exercise. It had ended with tangled limbs, stepped-on toes, and surprisingly, friendship bracelets exchanged between the former rivals.
"Remember when Marcus tried to organize that baking competition?" Fiona climbed down the ladder. "And both packs nearly started a flour war?"
"Until Caleb walked in covered in powdered sugar." Sam grinned. "Never seen an alpha look less intimidating."
"I heard that," Caleb called from across the room, where he was helping set up tables. "And I maintain someone rigged that shelf to dump on me."
"Sure, blame the shelf." Fiona winked at him. "It had nothing to do with your complete lack of spatial awareness."
Their laughter echoed through the hall, mixing with the sounds of two packs working together as one.
Fiona stepped back to admire their handiwork, the community center's main hall transformed into an autumn wonderland once again. Orange and gold streamers twisted overhead while carved pumpkins lined the windowsills. Her chest swelled with pride - not just at the decorations, but at how far they'd all come this past year.
"Remember when half the pack wouldn't even look me in the eye?" she mused aloud, watching two younger wolves argue over the proper placement of a cornucopia.
"Can't imagine why," Caleb drawled, appearing at her side. "You were only a strange witch who kept challenging their alpha's every decision."
"Someone had to keep you humble." She bumped his shoulder gently with hers. "Besides, look how well that turned out."
The evidence was all around them. Where once there had been suspicion, now there was only warmth. Pack members greeted her by name, included her in their jokes, sought her advice. Even the most traditional elders had taken to calling her "our witch" with fond exasperation.
"The center's never run better," Caleb said, his voice soft with pride. "You've given them something to rally around."
"We did that together." Fiona watched as Emmett showed some cubs how to make paper chains, his weathered hands gentle with the children. "Though I still can't believe you let me paint the activity room purple."
"Let you?" Caleb arched an eyebrow. "If I recall correctly, you just did it and then dared me to change it back."
"And you didn't." She grinned up at him. "Because you secretly loved it."
"Because I secretly love you," he corrected, pressing a soft kiss to her temple.
Heat bloomed in her chest that had nothing to do with her fire magic. Twelve months ago, she'd been a stranger in a new town, desperate for work. Now she had a home, a purpose, and a stubborn wolf who'd somehow become her everything.
"Getting sentimental in your old age?" she teased, though her voice caught slightly.
"Don't push it, witch." But his eyes crinkled at the corners, that special smile he reserved just for her.
"Hey lovebirds!" Wade called out from across the room. "Some of us are trying to work here!"
"You're just jealous," Fiona called back, but she pulled away from Caleb with one last squeeze of his hand. There was still work to be done, and she wouldn't have it any other way.
Fiona smoothed down her emerald dress later that night, the silk catching the candlelight as Caleb led her into Luna's Garden. The restaurant's glass ceiling revealed a blanket of stars above, and floating orbs of soft light drifted between tables like fireflies.
"You cleaned up nice," she said, taking in his charcoal suit. "Though I'm surprised you didn't try to convince me the community center counted as our anniversary dinner."
"Give me some credit." His fingers brushed the small of her back as the host seated them. "Besides, Wade threatened to stage a coup if I tried to keep you working tonight."
"Smart man." She settled into her chair, warmth blooming in her chest at the way Caleb's eyes lingered on her. "Though I still can't believe you remembered the exact date."
"The day you agreed to stay with me after the Victor fight? How could I forget?" He reached across the table, threading his fingers through hers. "You flipped my world upside down."
"Pretty sure you did that all on your own when you hired a witch to run your community center."
"Best terrible decision I ever made."
The waiter arrived with a bottle of wine, and Fiona caught the slight tremor in Caleb's hand as he reached for his glass. Strange - he never got nervous.
"Everything okay?" she asked after the waiter left. "You seem... twitchy."
"I'm fine." He tugged at his collar. "Just wondering how I got lucky enough to have a fire witch who can actually stand me."
"Stand you?" She laughed, the sound mixing with the soft jazz playing in the background. "Caleb, I love you. Even when you're being impossibly stubborn or growling at perfectly reasonable suggestions."
"I do not growl at reasonable suggestions."
"You growled at the idea of painting the activity room."
"It was purple!"
"And now it's everyone's favorite room." She squeezed his hand. "Face it, wolf - you're stuck with me and my reasonable suggestions."
His thumb traced circles on her palm, sending shivers up her arm. "Promise?"
The raw vulnerability in his voice made her heart skip. "Promise."
Fiona's heart stopped as Caleb slipped from his chair to one knee beside their table. The floating lights seemed to gather around them, casting a warm glow that made his blue eyes sparkle. Her wine glass trembled in her hand.
"Oh god, you're not having a medical emergency, are you?" The words tumbled out before she could stop them.
Caleb laughed, the sound rich and deep. "Trust you to ruin my perfectly planned moment with sass."
"You planned this?" Heat rushed to her cheeks as other diners turned to watch. "Is that why Wade's been grinning like an idiot all week?"
"Fiona." Caleb squeezed her hand, his thumb brushing over her knuckles. "For once in your life, stop talking."
"Make me," she challenged, though her voice cracked with emotion.
"I'm trying to." He pulled a small velvet box from his pocket. "Fiona Ashwood, you walked into my community center and turned my whole world upside down. You challenge me, support me, and somehow manage to love me even when I'm being impossible."
"Which is often," she whispered, tears pricking at the corners of her eyes.
"Which is often," he agreed, opening the box to reveal a ring that sparkled like captured starlight. "Will you marry me? Make my life difficult forever?"
Fiona's laugh came out half-sob. "That's the worst proposal line I've ever heard."
"Is that a yes?"
"Of course it's a yes, you impossible wolf." She threw herself into his arms, nearly knocking them both over. "Though I'm definitely telling Wade how badly you botched that line."
"He helped me practice better ones." Caleb slipped the ring onto her finger. "But somehow, this felt more us."
"It was perfect." She kissed him as the restaurant erupted in applause. "Though I'm definitely painting our bedroom purple now."
"Don't push it, witch."